Survival Kit back and front view (c) Carol Fawcett/Reasons 2009.

Tonight I’m DJing for Nick Lowe’s show at the Royal Albert Hall, which provides an opportunity to show off the so-called Survival Kit put together for his 1979 US tour promoting Labour Of Lust.

Survival Kit contents (c) Carol Fawcett/Reasons 2009.

Not that Nick would be in need of such a device on his current UK dates; these days he’s a happily settled father whose mid-career resurgence has been rightly likened to that of Bob Dylan’s. Surely he is our greatest living songwriter?

Gatefold outer sleeve, Brinsley Schwarz, Brinsley Schwarz, UA 1970.

Nick’s career first benefited from Barney Bubbles artwork when he was a member of Brinsley Schwarz. Back in 1970 Barney provided the gatefold cover of the band’s eponymous debut album  under the guise of Teenburger Designs.

Cowboys, paint-by-numbers series, possibly 50s.

For the Brinsley Schwarz sleeve, Barney applied lurid colours to a paint-by-numbers depiction of a Native American brave ( painted to look as though he is observing earth from a far-off planet). As can be seen in another from this Western series – discovered by Mrs G on eBay last year – Barney increased the hallucinatory/sci-fi effect by stretching the width.

If you’re in the South Kensington area tonight come along and shake a tail-feather; Ron Sexsmith is in support and Nick and his fine fellow musicians will be performing a selection from recent career retrospective Quiet Please. I’m DJing before and after the show.

Tags: Brinsley Schwarz, May 18, Nick Lowe, Properganda, Quiet Please, Ron Sexsmith, Royal Albert Hall, Teenburger

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